Whatcom County adds five COVID-19 cases Tuesday, state reports
Five more Whatcom residents have tested positive for COVID-19, according to the Washington State Department of Health on Tuesday, Aug. 18. No new deaths were reported.
Whatcom County now has had 1,034 confirmed cases and 39 deaths during the pandemic, according to the state. The new numbers mean 3.8% of people diagnosed with the new coronavirus in Whatcom have died — according to state Department of Health data as of 11:59 p.m. Monday, Aug. 17.
The state also reported Tuesday that Whatcom County has had 81 hospitalizations. The state did not release the number of total tests or the percent positive of those tests because the state is changing the way they count tests, according to a Wednesday news release. Whereas the previous method reflected the total number of unique individuals who have been tested, the new method due the week of Aug. 24 will count every test completed, the release read.
The most recent data from the state’s Risk Assessment Dashboard, reported on Tuesday for data ending 11:59 p.m. Monday, shows Whatcom County missing four of five Phase 2 metrics goals:
▪ Whatcom is missing the target rate of fewer than 25 new cases per 100,000 residents every 14 days with a rate of 48.4.
▪ Whatcom is missing the target rate of more than 50 individuals tested for each new confirmed case the past week with a number of 32.6.
▪ Whatcom is missing the target of 2% or less of individuals testing positive for COVID-19 during the past week with a rate of 3.1%.
▪ Whatcom is missing the target of less than 80% of all licensed hospital beds occupied by non-COVID-19 patients with 89% reported by the state.
▪ Whatcom is making the target of less than 10% of all licensed hospital beds being occupied by COVID-19 patients with 0.4% reported by the state.
St. Joseph hospital in Bellingham reported to The Bellingham Herald on Tuesday that it was treating one patient for the new coronavirus.
U.S. and Washington state
More than 21.98 million cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed worldwide, with more than 776,914 deaths as of Tuesday afternoon, according to Johns Hopkins University. The United States has over 5.47 million confirmed cases — the most reported cases of any nation — and at least 171,636 related deaths.
Overall, the Washington State Department of Health Tuesday afternoon reported 68,264 cases (an increase of 543), 1,809 deaths (an increase of 24) and 6,358 coronavirus-related hospitalizations (an increase of 62). Approximately 2.7% of all confirmed cases in the state have resulted in death. The state did not release the number of total tests or the percent positive of those tests.
Lummi extends order
The Lummi Indian Business Council announced via Facebook that, due to increased COVID-19 cases in Whatcom County, it is extending Phase II of its Shelter in Place Order until 11:59 p.m. Sept. 4.
“People at high risk of severe illnesses from COVID-19 ... and people who are sick are urged to stay in their residence to the maximum extent possible, except as necessary to seek medical care,” the release stated.
The order also encouraged all Lummi community members to maintain social distancing, prohibits social gathers of more than 10 people from outside a household, encouraged recreation activities with proper social distancing, permits travel within the state of Washington to areas with limited coronavirus transmission and required wearing face coverings in indoor and outdoor settings.
The order also stated that the Lummi Mini Mart, Fisherman’s Cove Store, Loomis Trail Golf Course and 260 Fine Spirits and Tobacco Store will remain open.
On Saturday, Sept. 15, Lummi announced its 59th community member had tested positive for COVID-19.
Alaska Ferry update
It was announced on Monday evening, Aug. 17, that the Matanuska crew members tested negative for COVID-19, and the next scheduled departure from Bellingham for the Alaska ferry will still be 6 p.m. Friday, Aug. 21.
The ferry arrived at the Bellingham Cruise Terminal on Friday, Aug. 14, having learned that passengers on a previous trip had tested positive for COVID-19 and that the crew would need to be tested before the ferry could return to Alaska.
The Alaska Marine Highway System said the crew must be tested and are required to receive negative results before the ship resumes service.
Phased reopening
Gov. Inslee July 28 extended the pause indefinitely on counties moving ahead in the Safe Start Washington plan.
Five counties remain in a modified version of Phase 1, 17 counties — including Whatcom — are in Phase 2 and 17 counties are in Phase 3.
Phase 2 allows restaurants and taverns to operate at half capacity with table occupancy limited to five people. However, there can be no indoor seating at bars and taverns. Additionally, hair and nail salons and barber shops are allowed to resume business with some restrictions, and retail stores can reopen for in-store purchases at 30% capacity.
It also allows additional outdoor recreation and gatherings with no more than five people outside of a person’s household. However, facilities such as pools and arcades are still not allowed. Movie theaters, libraries, museums, nightclubs, live entertainment and any kind of large gathering are also not allowed.
Phase 3 allows gyms and movie theaters to operate at half capacity and restaurants to increase capacity to 75%. A prohibition on bar seating at restaurants and taverns was added in this phase earlier in July.
This story was originally published August 18, 2020 at 4:12 PM.
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